Tristan Schoolkate, Destanee Aiava and Rinky Hijikata all bundled out on opening day at Roland Garros
The French Open debuts for Australians Tristan Schoolkate and Destanee Aiava ended in defeat with compatriot Rinky Hijikata also bundled out on the opening day of action at Roland Garros.
Given a wildcard into the clay court grand slam, Aiava couldn't handle hard-hitting Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, losing 7-5 6-1, and conceded she lost her way after going down an early break.
'It's a different kind of game type that I have to get more experience with. She's obviously a big hitter. It just wasn't as consistent as I liked it to be,' the 25-year-old said.
'I need to get better with controlling my emotions when things look like or feel like they're getting too far away from me.
'Especially going down a break and automatically thinking I've lost … It's kind of a natural response that I have all the time. It's something that I really do need to work on.'
Schoolkate went down to the more experienced Marton Fucsovics in a battle that lasted more than two hours and gave the West Australian some confidence with hopes of getting back next year.
'I think it was a great experience, great learning to see the level these guys (achieve). Why they've been at that ranking and are such calibre of players for so long,' he said after the 6-4 6-2 6-2 loss.
'There's a lot I can improve on and I'm happy to do that work and improve and hopefully be back next year and do better again.'
Hijikata was the only Australian to win a set, taking the first in just 18 minutes against American Reilly Opelka.
But then the big-serving of Opelka became a factor, sending down 22 aces as he took control to run out a 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6 winner.
'I played a bit of a loose game, then I felt like from there he started really picking it up and in third and fourth (sets), I felt like he served exceptionally,' Hijikata said.
'I didn't really get a look. He played some really good shots. There were one or two chances where I had to capitalise, but I didn't. He came up with some pretty good stuff when he needed to, especially in the fourth set.'
'This is the longest I've spent on clay in a long, long time. I did feel like I was figuring it out, which maybe makes this (loss) a little bit more frustrating,
'I am starting to figure it out. I feel like next year I can come here and feel like I can get some good results. I do think it's a surface I can play on. I think a lot of part of my game now, I've realised can match up well … I'm confident moving forward.'
Another eight Australians, including Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint, will be in action on day two.
RESULTS – Roland Garros day 1
Men's singles, first round
Reilly Opelka d Rinky Hijikata 1-6 6-3 7-5 7-6(3)
Marton Fucsovics d (WC) Tristan Schoolkate 6-4 6-2 6-2
Women's singles first round
Dayana Yastremska d (WC) Destanee Aiava 7-5 6-1
COMING UP – Roland Garros day 2
Men's singles, first round
(25) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) first match, Court 6
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Jiri Lehecka (CZE) second match, Court 4
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v (24) Karen Khachanov third match, Court 12
Chris O'Connell (AUS) v (22) Ugo Humbert (FRA) last match, Court 14
Women's singles, first round
(Q) Daria Saville v (7) Madison Keys last match, Simonne-Matthieu Court
(17) Daria Kasatkina (AUS) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE) third match, Court 6
Maya Joint (AUS) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) second match, Court 9
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
11 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Reds' Super Rugby finals hopes end in quarter finals again as Crusaders make Queensland pay
The Reds have failed to progress past the first week of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series for a fourth year in succession, with Queensland completely outclassed by the clinical Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night. The Queenslanders were never in the contest, with the Crusaders dominating all over the park in slippery conditions to win 32-12. It was perhaps even a scoreline that flattered the visitors, who were trailing 27-0 in the 70th minute before scoring back-to-back consolation tries through replacement hooker Josh Nasser and star flanker Fraser McReight – both when the Crusaders only had 14 men on the field following flanker Ethan Blackadder being yellow carded for a swinging arm. Fittingly, it was the Crusaders who scored the final try of the game, with replacement halfback Kyle Preston crossing over out wide to send Queensland packing again. The Reds also lost at the same stage of the finals against Kiwi teams in New Zealand in 2022, 2023 and last year. 'Again we've fallen over at the quarter-finals (week one),' disappointed Queensland skipper Tate McDermott said. 'We'll continue to work out what we need to do to go forward.' The Hurricanes led 12-0 at half-time, and the margin could have been greater such was the Reds' failure to value possession and a lack of discipline. Poor handling from McReight led to the Hurricanes' first try in the 17th minute. The Reds had won a lineout near their tryline, but McReight couldn't hold the ball, allowing Crusaders lock Scott Barrett to scoop it up and force his way over the line for a five-pointer. The visitors continued to cough up possession and were again punished just before the half-hour mark when Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams proved too strong close to the line to extend his side's lead. By half-time, the Queenslanders had already conceded six penalties compared to Crusaders' one. The Reds were also hit with an injury blow, with flyhalf Tom Lynagh forced off in the 35th after suffering another head knock and subsequently failing his concussion test. With no replacement No.10 on the bench, fullback Jock Campbell moved to flyhalf and replacement Tim Ryan, usually a winger, assumed the custodian role. The procession continued after half-time with Crusaders half-back Noah Hotham and flyhalf Rivez Reihana each scoring tries to put the game to bed. 'You've got to give credit to the Crusaders. They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle,' McDermott said. 'They're really good at disrupting your ball and slowing you down, and they did a good job at that.'
ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
BTN Newsbreak 06/06/2025
TRUMP AND ELON DRAMA Elon Musk and Donald Trump have exploded back into headlines today. That's right, the political bromance of tech billionaire Elon Musk, and US President Donald Trump is over. But what on earth happened? Well, from Mr Trump's first day in office, Elon Musk had been a major player. But recently, the pair started butting heads over some policies, particularly this spending bill called the One Big Beautiful Act, and last week, Musk left his role at the White House. But things really escalated overnight after the President said this. Mr Musk started firing back on his social media platform, X. And then the President hopped on his social media platform and well, the fight of the century began. It's been a war of words that honestly you'd expect from more of a roast battle. And while plenty of people have the popcorn out, lots are also worried about what it'll mean for American politics, if this feud continues to escalate. SOCCEROOS The Socceroos are on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a nail biting one-nil win last night. Japan dominated play for most of the match, until the very final minute when Aziz Behich scored this winning goal. It was his first Socceroos goal in 13 years and Australia's first win over Japan in 16 years. And as long as they avoid a heavy defeat in next week's game against Saudi Arabia, they're all but certain to qualify. PARA SPORT Now over to Darwin, where students living with disabilities are taking part in a program that's all about trying new sports and getting active. From golf, to wheelchair rugby, these kids in Darwin are discovering their new favourite sports. It's all part of a national program designed to encourage people living with disabilities to explore different sports, and this year more than 250 students took part. And Sam says events like this aren't just about getting active, they're about giving it a go, making friends and having a lot of fun at the same time. ROBOTS MOVING HOUSES First up, to a block of buildings on the move in China! 400 robotic feet lifted and moved them in sync. They're actually being moved back to their original location after making way for underground construction works. The robots moved the buildings, weighing 7-and-a-half thousand tonnes, at a rate of about 10 meters per day. SWITCH STAPLES Now to people around the world who have lined up for hours just to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2. But for some customers in the US, excitement quickly turned to disappointment, as reports of punctured screens appeared on social media. Turns out, because Nintendo packaged the Switch with its screen facing outwards, when game shop employees used staplers to staple receipts to the front of boxes. A whole bunch of console screens were left damaged. One shop has already offered to replace them, adding staplers have been confiscated. STANLEY PUP And finally, if you've ever wanted to watch dogs play hockey, this is the closest you're gonna get. The world's first Stanley Pup, a play off the famous Stanley Cup hockey championship, features rescue dogs who are all up for adoption. It's a collaboration between America's national hockey league and an animal welfare charity.
West Australian
27 minutes ago
- West Australian
Aziz Behich's goal the latest in a series of dramatic Socceroos World Cup qualification moments
Aziz Behich's dramatic, late strike against Japan is the latest in a series of incredible Socceroos moments which have put them on the path to the World Cup. After 32 years of hurt, the Socceroos' 'golden generation' broke through against Uruguay to seal a first World Cup berth since 1974. Four years on from a 3-1 aggregate loss to Uruguay, Australia exacted sweet revenge, with Mark Bresciano sending the two-legged tie into extra tie, and then onto penalties. Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill and Tony Vidmar converted their spot-kicks, and then Mark Schwarzer saved not once, but twice to give Aloisi the decisive penalty. The striker buried the demons of qualifications gone wrong, before wheeling away in celebration, shirt dispatched with as Stadium Australia exploded. Heading into their final game of qualifying in 2013, Australia needed just a point against Iraq to secure a spot at the World Cup in Brazil. As the game headed towards its final 10 minutes, Stadium Australia was on edge, with Jordan's lead in the other group game meaning an Iraq goal could force Australia out of second and into a play-off. But then the Socceroos had their 'coming to Jesus' moment, as Bresciano delivered an 83rd minute cross to the long-haired, bearded Kennedy, who rose to head home. After Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos' qualification hopes had dramatically torpedoed, they escaped by the skin of their teeth in a play-off against Syria over two legs. Having reached an inter-confederation play-off against Honduras, Australia managed a 0-0 draw in San Pedro Sular before the two sides hastily trekked back to Sydney for the second leg. And it was Mile Jedinak who proved the hero, with a deflected free-kick followed by a pair of penalties giving the captain a memorable hat-trick to send his country to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Socceroos' 2022 World Cup hopes looked on thin ice, as the global pandemic forced a delay in the qualifiers, and then the play-offs into a centralised hub in Qatar. After Australia edged past the UAE in the Asian play-off, they set up a clash with the more fancied-Peru. Just before the match went to penalties, Graham Arnold shocked everyone by substituting out goalkeeper Mat Ryan, throwing on Sydney FC 'keeper Andrew Redmayne for spot-kicks. And it was there where Redmayne danced his way into Australian sporting folklore as the 'Grey Wiggle' bounced along the goal-line before diving to his right to thwart Alex Varela and seal another qualification. The Socceroos were dominated by Japan in a game they needed to win in order to all but seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup. But having withstood 90 minutes of pressure from the Asian powerhouse, Riley McGree's skillful run into the box and cut-back was met by Aziz Behich. The left-back's dramatic, first-time finish on his weaker foot triggered mayhem on the pitch and in the stands, as his goal put Australia on the precipice of a sixth World Cup in a row.
